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At 1:35am on the third day of a T20 match, Chennai Super Kings emerged as the new IPL champions, winning their fifth title to draw level with Mumbai Indians.Ravindra Jadeja pierced the silence built by tens of thousands of people when he hit the final two balls of an incredible, chaotic, unbelievable chase for boundaries. One straight in front of him. The other behind.An equation of 171 off 15 overs reduced to 13 off one. Mohit Sharma made it even tougher – 10 off two balls. CSK hadn’t hit a boundary in 13 balls. They had, however, lost two wickets. One of them was MS Dhoni, for a duck.That was looking like it might be his last act on a cricket field. He will be 42 soon. He said preparing for the IPL at his age was taking a “heavy toll”. When he came in, Ahmedabad broke the sound barrier. When he left, the crowd was bereft.But, an hour and a half later, they looked on, having suffered through the rain, braving difficult journeys to and from the ground, as their hero walked up onto the podium and picked up his fifth IPL trophy. In a rare show of emotion, once the winning runs were hit, Dhoni wrapped his arms around Jadeja and lifted him clean off the ground. That’s how much it meant to him. It even convinced him to keep playing for another year.None of this would have been possible though without the impact of Ambati Rayudu. He tweeted that this would be his final IPL match. When he walked out, ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster suggested CSK only had a 35% chance of victory. He lashed Mohit for 6, 4 and 6 and with those three hits, his team became overwhelming favourites – 93%.Ravindra Jadeja finished the job for CSK with a six and a four on the last two balls•AFP/Getty Images

The highlights

The IPL final began on May 28. Not a ball was bowled because of rain. Then it shifted to May 29. Two-hundred and ten balls took six hours to be bowled because of another weather intervention.B Sai Sudharsan made the final the spectacle it was. The 21-year old Chennai boy took it to his hometown franchise, scoring 96 runs off 47 balls. Mohit made it last the distance. He came back from the Rayudu assault to pick up two wickets in two balls.Later, facing some of the greatest pressure a player can be under – bowling the last over with an IPL final on his shoulders – he nailed three perfect off-stump yorkers that were simply unhittable.Super Kings had been propped up by yet another strong opening partnership from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway. But once the field spread – after four overs – they found the going tougher. Especially against Noor Ahmad. The 18-year old left arm wristspinner did not concede a single boundary in a spell of 3-0-17-2. His Afghanistan team-mate though was battered around.Rashid Khan was about to finish his spell well. The first four balls of his last over went for just three runs. The rest went for 12. Shivam Dube got the tossed up balls he wanted and he smashed them both for sixes.CSK needed to go 6, 6, 6, 4, 6 between the 12th and the 13th overs just to get ahead in this game. They were trailing until that five-ball sequence. Imagine being the Titans right now. Those five balls – and then the last two – ended up deciding their fate.Ambati Rayudu joined Rohit Sharma as the only men to win six IPL titles•BCCI

They finally roar for Jadeja

At the end of the league stage, Jadeja had a strike rate of 149.47 between overs 15 and 20. That is the lowest of the 14 finishers who have faced at least 75 balls in this phase. His closest competitor for a place in the Indian team in T20 cricket – Axar Patel – was up at 175.55.To make matters worse, every time he fell, he was greeted to the sound of the crowd roaring as one for the incoming batter. Dhoni. It got to the point where he rounded on the fans, in jest of course, and, in response, the next time he walked out to the middle, the Chepauk DJ played a song called , which in Tamil translates to ‘will you forgive me?’Jadeja faced only six balls in the final. He was at the crease for only 13. There were no boundaries hit for the duration of his stay … until the penultimate ball. A yorker that fell only inches short from Mohit was launched down the ground, and then the last ball, another attempted yorker that became a low full toss, was flicked to the left of short fine.Chennai would have roared as one. This time for Jadeja.

The blinder from Rayudu

CSK needed 72 from 36. Eleven balls, two fours and a wicket later, they needed 54 from 25 and that’s what Rayudu walked into. He has played 204 matches in his IPL career, which began in 2010. This season he’s had to play a reduced role. He was CSK’s Impact Player at the start. None of his innings lasted more than 17 balls. Yet he kept telling his team-mates in the dressing room that he would win the final for them. Deepak Chahar made a point of saying that by cutting across Rayudu himself when he was doing an interview with the host broadcaster.The second six he hit was especially stunning. Off an into-the-wicket slower ball that was designed to rob the batter of his balance, Rayudu kept his, and smashed it over extra cover. As far as cameos go, this 19 off 8 will remain long in memory.B Sai Sudharsan hit six sixes in his 47-ball 96•BCCI

The forgotten hero

Sudharsan arrived on the back of a stumping that Dhoni pulled off in 0.1 seconds to get rid of Shubman Gill. He was 10 off 12 with no boundaries after 11 overs. He was the man that had to retire out in Qualifier 2 so Titans could get a better ball-striker in. But even that night, they let Sudharsan bat till the start of the 20th over and only then pulled him out. They trust this guy. They trust all their guys. That’s their whole thing.Sudharsan seems to understand his limitations. And that gives him his power. He can’t hit sixes like Tim David or Suryakumar Yadav. Even the ones he manages to hit look like they take a lot out of him. That bat goes as high as it can in the back-lift and comes thundering down. He holds nothing back because he knows he can’t afford to.Defensive bowling is all about protecting one side of the pitch. Usually, the leg side. That’s why most teams station more men in the deep there. It’s instinct to slog the ball in T20s.But Sudharsan is different. He is a really good off-side player. On Monday, he found six of his eight fours there. Two of them were slaps in the face of CSK’s plans. In the 17th over, with mid-off and cover up and Tushar Deshpande trying to tuck him up on middle and leg, Sudharsan made room and flat-batted two beautiful boundaries where he knew he didn’t need power. Just placement.This was part of a three-over period in which he scored all of the Titans’ boundaries – three sixes and five fours. When a batter pillages runs both sides of the wicket, the opposition unravels.No CSK bowler was spared. Not even Matheesha Pathirana. He had gone entire games – 9 of 14 – without giving away as many runs as he did on Monday to just one player. Sudharsan whacked the Sri Lankan sensation for 34 in 14 balls.

علق حازم إمام نجم الزمالك السابق، على موقف تمسك محمود حسن تريزيجيه بتسديد ركلة الجزاء التي حصل عليها أحمد سيد زيزو خلال مباراة الأهلي وإنتر ميامي في افتتاح كأس العالم للأندية، والتي أضاعها في نهاية المطاف.

وحسم التعادل السلبي نتيجة مباراة الأهلي وإنتر ميامي في افتتاح بطولة كأس العالم للأندية بنسختها الجديدة بمشاركة 32 فريقًا من مختلف قارات العالم.

وقال حازم إمام في تصريحات عبر برنامج “الحريفة”، على إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “طبيعي أن المدير الفني يضع ترتيب لمُسددي ركلات الجزاء، لكن رد فعل المدرب خاصة لو كان جديدًا بعد هذا الموقف، هو الذي سيُظهر كيف ستسير الأمور بعد ذلك”.

طالع أيضًا | وسام أبو علي يكشف من الأحق بتسديد ركلة جزاء الأهلي أمام إنتر ميامي

وتابع: “لو لم يتخذ المدرب رد فعل، ولم يُحدد موقفه بشأن ما حدث، سيتكرر الأمر مرة وإثنين وثلاثة، المدرب لا بد أن يكون له شخصية، إن رقم واحد في الترتيب لا بد أن يُسدد هو، إلا إذا رفض أو لم يكن متواجدًا في الملعب، في هذه الحالة يدخل رقم إثنين أو رقم ثلاثة”.

وأوضح: “هذه الأمور تكون واضحة قبل المباراة، المدير الفني يكلف اللاعبين المنوط بهم تسديد الكرات الثابتة، واضح إن وسام أبو علي كان رقم واحد، لأنه أراد أن يُسدد الكرة، لكن أوقات اللاعب يشعر أنه (جامد وفايق) وتريزيجيه كان كذلك، هذه الأمور تحدث، لكن تعامل المدرب بعد المباراة ورد فعله هو من سيحدد بعد ذلك من سيسدد، بالتأكيد سيتخذ موقفًا”.

واختتم: “طالما هناك ترتيب في التسديد لا بد الالتزام به، وهذا يُظهر قوة وشخصية المدير الفني، وسام أبو علي لم يتمسك بموقفه ويأخذ الكرة من تريزيجيه لأن الأخير نجم كبير وقائد الفريق”.

Chelsea’s hunt for a new talisman is rapidly running out with just a couple of days remaining in the January transfer window to do any form of business.

Enzo Maresca has been after a new number nine in both of the transfer windows since his appointment at Stamford Bridge, but his hunt has so far been to no avail – undoubtedly disappointing the Italian.

Nicolas Jackson remains his primary option within the current first-team squad, with the Senegalese international notching nine goals in his 22 appearances – an average of one every 2.4 games he features in.

Whilst such a record is credible given the competitive nature of the Premier League, it’s clear the boss wants another experienced option to help his quest of taking the Blues back to the summit of the table.

One name has continuously been linked with a move to West London in recent days, but competition has seriously ramped up for his signature as the deadline edges ever closer.

Chelsea’s hunt to land Bayern’s Mathys Tel

In recent days, Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel has emerged as the latest striker to be linked with a move to join Chelsea, as the club look to finally end their pursuit.

Their ambitions of landing the Frenchman were handed a boost after it was confirmed that he wanted to depart the Bundesliga side after his lack of game time under Vincent Kompany in 2024/25.

His admission has sparked interest from multiple other English sides such as Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester United, with Tottenham Hotspur appearing to lead the race for the 19-year-old.

Tel appeared to wave goodbye to Bayern supporters after their Champions League clash on Wednesday night, but it’s unclear whether any deal would be on a temporary or permanent basis.

However, despite the interest in services, Maresca and the hierarchy should put all their focus and attention on one other player who’s previously been linked with a move to the Bridge.

Why David would be better than Tel for Chelsea

Jonathan David is another player who’s been on the shortlist of various Premier League outfits during January, unsurprisingly given his form for Lille in Ligue 1 during 2024/25.

The Canadian has registered 18 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances across all competitions, including seven goals in 11 Champions League games in the group and qualifying stages.

The Blues have previously been in the race for the 25-year-old’s services this month, with it being reported earlier this week that an unnamed English club had a £10m bid rejected.

However, Chelsea could pounce on his current scenario and make a move for David with his deal set to expire at the end of the season, offering the club a better option than current target Tel.

When comparing the pair on FBref, the Lille talisman has massively outperformed the youngster, further showcasing why he would be a better choice in the coming days.

Games played

18

8

Goals & assists

13

1

Shot-on-target accuracy

52%

30%

Goals & assists per 90

0.9

0.3

Take-on success

50%

50%

Aerials won

0.7

0.3

Times caught offside

0.1

0.4

David, who’s previously been dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world” by podcaster Tony Marinaro, has massively outscored the Bayern talent, whilst also producing a better shot-on-target accuracy rate – handing Maresca the clinical edge he’s desperately been hunting for.

He’s also averaged more aerials won per 90 along with being caught offside fewer times, undoubtedly showing that he could be the all-round talisman the Blues have been hunting for.

It’s unclear if his current side would be willing to part ways with their star man this month, but given his current contract length, it would be a shame not to see the club take advantage.

If the Blues are to reach the next level under Maresca, it’s crucial that they recruit the right players to help him in his attempts, with David providing exactly that should he move.

Worth more than Tel: Chelsea have already struck gold on "world-class" star

Chelsea have already hit the jackpot with one player who’s worth more than Mathys Tel.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 30, 2025

It has felt like Arsenal have simply gone from one problem to another this season.

Mikel Arteta has had to deal with silly suspensions, a constant stream of injuries to key players and a lack of form from his attacking options.

In fact, the only fit attacker who is on song at the moment is 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who’s racked up a brilliant haul of seven goals and one assist in just 790 minutes of first-team football.

In contrast, club captain Martin Odegaard and experienced winger Leandro Trossard have been disappointing and, worse yet, are being outperformed by a Premier League star axed by the club as a youngster.

Odegaard and Trossard's season so far

So, after winning the club’s Player of the Year for the second successive campaign last season, it would be fair to say that there was an expectation that Odegaard would once again be one of Arsenal’s best players this year.

Unfortunately, as things stand, that is not the case, and while his ankle injury has likely played a role in his lacklustre form, it seems equally unlikely that it’s all down to that.

In all, the Norwegian maestro has scored three goals and provided six assists in 26 games this season, which isn’t enough from the team’s leader, and on top of that, he’s been taken off early in several games when the team have been searching for a goal, such as Everton at home and Newcastle United away.

Like his captain, Trossard has been incredibly underwhelming this season.

For example, the Belgian ace, who racked up 17 goals and two assists in 46 appearances last season, has only been able to score five goals and provide seven assists in 37 appearances this year.

That’s a drop from an average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games to one every 3.08 games, which might not be enormous, but considering how much of the goalscoring burden rests on him for at least the next month, it is concerning.

What makes the pair’s drop-off all the more frustrating is that a player axed from the club’s academy well over a decade ago is now pulling up trees in the Premier League and outperforming them both.

Where Are They Now

Expand Collapse The Arsenal youngster sold too soon

Given the size of Arsenal and their impressive academy system, there are several players who they’ve released too soon, from the most well-known, Harry Kane, to his new teammate at Bayern Munich, Micheal Olise.

However, in this instance, the youngster in question is actually the Frenchman’s old teammate, Eberechi Eze.

The dynamic attacker joined the North Londoners’ academy as a child but was released in 2011 at just 13 years old, after which he’d spend the next five years in the academies of Fulham, Reading and Millwall before finally joining Queens Park Rangers in 2016.

Four years after that, with 32 goal involvements in 112 first-team appearances and a loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers under his belt, the young Englishman secured a £20m move to Premier League side Crystal Palace, where he has since cemented his place as one of the most exciting players in the division.

Not only can the “superstar” attacker, as dubbed by football analyst Ben Mattinson, play in midfield and out wide, but he’s also more than capable of chipping in with goals and assists, racking up a total of 32 goals and 23 assists in 150 games for the club.

However, in terms of just this season, he’s already scored six goals and provided six assists in just 26 appearances, totalling 2012 minutes.

That means the former QPR ace is averaging a goal involvement every 2.16 games, or every 167.66 minutes, which is a better rate of return than both Odegaard and Trossard, despite playing a team that’ll likely finish midtable at best.

Eze vs Trossard vs Odegaard

Player

Eze

Trossard

Odegaard

Appearances

26

37

26

Minutes

2012′

2190′

2033′

Goals

6

5

3

Assists

6

7

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

0.32

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

167.66′

182.5′

255.8′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, determining which youngsters are worth investing in is notoriously difficult, so it’s hard to blame Arsenal for missing out on Eze, but we reckon the team’s injury crisis would be a lot more manageable with him in the side.

Related Arsenal struck gold on "beast" whose valued has soared by 1488% this season

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 19, 2025

West Ham United are now ready to make a summer move for an £83m star who has “sky high potential”, according to a report.

Hammers eyeing a midfielder

The Hammers have set their sights on signing a new midfielder this summer, with Graham Potter identifying the need to strengthen the spine of his team if his side are going to compete for Europe once again.

Marco Verratti is the central midfielder most recently linked with a surprise move to the London Stadium, with a report revealing West Ham are considering a summer approach for the former Paris Saint-Germain man.

Lille’s Angel Gomes is another player on the Irons’ shortlist, with the 24-year-old’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, although they may have to compete for his signature with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Gomes is not the only player the Hammers and Spurs have a shared interest in, with a report from Caught Offside revealing the Premier League duo are closely monitoring Palmeiras’ Richard Rios, alongside Nottingham Forest.

Related West Ham think they'll regret not agreeing deal for this striker in January

The Hammers are already ruing a missed opportunity.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Feb 8, 2025

Tottenham are said to be leading the charge for Rios, but West Ham are also ready to make a move in the summer, although he is unlikely to come cheap.

Palmeiras are said to be holding out for the Colombian’s full release clause of €100m (£83m), which none of the potential suitors are willing to pay, although it remains to be seen whether they soften their stance over the next few months.

If the Brazilian club are unwilling to lower their demands, other methods of getting a deal done could be utilised, potentially including players plus cash.

West Ham United’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Dates

Brentford (h)

February 15th

Arsenal (a)

February 22nd

Leicester City (h)

February 27th

Newcastle United (h)

March 10th

Everton (a)

March 15th

Rios has "sky high potential"

Back in the summer, freelance scout Ben Mattinson indicated the central midfielder could be capable of making the step up to a big club one day, if he develops his game.

Since then, the Palmeiras star has certainly continued to impress, establishing himself as a key player for the Brazilian side and weighing in with three goals and four assists in the Brazilian Serie A’s 2024 season.

However, given that he is unproven outside of Brazil, Rios has not yet justified a £83m outlay, so West Ham should only consider pursuing a move if Palmeiras drop their asking price.

Kieran McKenna will hope his Ipswich Town side can make it an unbelievable two wins from two in the Premier League when travelling to Fulham this coming weekend.

After all, the Tractor Boys have already pulled off one scalp involving a team from London in the top flight recently, when surprisingly getting the better of Chelsea 2-0 to see out 2024 in the best possible way.

Now, they’ll travel to Craven Cottage with a bit between their teeth, even as some unwanted distractions begin to pop up with the transfer window swinging back open.

Liam Delap's future at Ipswich

The main unwelcome bit of news involves Liam Delap, with many a Premier League outfit reportedly looking at the on-fire Tractor Boys centre-forward this January.

Indeed, it is now being reported that Chelsea are pursuing the services of the potent 21-year-old, knowing full well what he’s capable of after he scored and assisted in that 2-0 win at the back end of December.

His breakneck speed proved too much for the Blues to handle, with Liverpool also reportedly now looking at Delap this January to improve their already frightening attacking personnel.

Ipswich will pray that the ex-Manchester City star does stay put in Suffolk, but this could prove to be an uphill battle, especially if either of the named suitors are prepared to splash some big bucks on the clinical striker.

If he does depart, replacing Delap will obviously be priority number one at Portman Road, with this EFL sharp shooter perhaps snapped up to fill that void.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Ipswich's dream Delap replacement

Ipswich’s dream replacement could well be Middlesbrough attacker Emmanuel Latte Lath, who was linked with a switch to McKenna’s men last month.

A move would no doubt accelerate back into motion if Delap left for pastures new, but the Tractor Boys won’t be alone in attempting to win the services of the Boro marksman, with West Ham United noted as another interested party.

The outrageous solo strike above scored earlier in the season shows off an attacker who very much operates in the same mould as Delap; someone who’s constantly wanting to bomb forward with lightning-quick pace before beating the goalkeeper confidently.

Michael Carrick’s men will be doing everything in their power to try and keep a firm grip on the deadly Ivorian, but his sublime numbers in the second tier across his playing days in England to date means he is surely overdue a Premier League move.

24/25

24

9

2

23/24

30

16

1

In total, Latte Lath has fired home a clinical 25 strikes in the Championship from 64 clashes, with his nine goals this season alone bettering Delap’s blistering Premier League numbers which comes in at seven goals.

Of course, the two-time Ivory Coast international is yet to be unleashed onto the top flight, but McKenna has succeeded in getting more out of a number of EFL established figures when making the step-up, seen in his team’s surprising success over Enzo Maresca’s outfit.

Hailed as “sharp” by Carrick when netting versus Sheffield United in October, Latte Lath could still prove to be a worthwhile addition to the camp even if Delap does remain in Suffolk, owing to a lack of other centre-forward personnel.

But, the 25-year-old would want to make waves in the Premier League as Ipswich’s main star-man, as the Tractor Boys begin to prepare for some frantic activity in the window.

Ipswich could seal Szmodics repeat by signing "special" EFL star

Ipswich Town could shop in the EFL this January to boost their attacking personnel.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 1, 2025

No one could’ve predicted the start Nottingham Forest have enjoyed to the 2024/25 Premier League season, sitting in third place after the first 20 matches.

Nuno Espírito Santo has worked wonders with the Reds side, losing just four times in the process, allowing them to sit just six points off league leaders Liverpool over halfway through the campaign.

The counterattacking system has been built on defensive stability with the settled back four and goalkeeper undoubtedly playing a pivotal role in their recent success.

Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have formed a formidable centre-back partnership, along with goalkeeper Matz Sels, keeping nine clean sheets – the most of any side in England’s top flight, an unthinkable feat given the defensive issues during 2023/24.

The attack has also contributed to their unimaginable league standing, with one player in particular exceeding all expectations in front of goal over the last few months.

Chris Wood’s form for Forest in 2024/25

New Zealand international Chris Wood was seen as an unpopular addition back in January 2023, arriving on loan with an obligation to buy for £15m from Newcastle United – where he had scored just five goals for the Magpies.

However, fast-forward two years, the 32-year-old has been worth every penny of their investment, scoring 27 times in 55 appearances since his permanent transfer.

2024/25 has arguably been his best top-flight season to date, scoring 12 times in just 20 outings – working out at 41% of the Reds’ goals – highlighting his importance to the side.

His instinctive nature in and around the box has made him perfect around the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi on the counter in Nuno’s side.

However, given his current contract situation and his age, the club could look to look at alternatives in the January transfer window, including one player who could be their own version of a leading goalscorer in Europe.

The player who could be Forest’s answer to Gyokeres

Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has caught the eye since his move to Portugal in 2023, scoring 73 times in 79 matches since joining from Coventry City.

This season alone, the Swedish international has produced a phenomenal goalscoring record, registering 30 goals in just 29 outings – including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Every side must wish they had a clinical goal scorer like Gyokeres, but despite Forest’s recent run in the Premier League, they wouldn’t be able to afford his €100m (£83.6m) release clause in his current deal.

However, they could land their own version of the Swede in the form of Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez, who’s been ranked as a similar player to the Sporting man by FBref.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis tried to sign the Mexican in the summer, however, he turned down a move to the City Ground. Yet, given their recent run of form, he could be tempted by a move to the East Midlands – with rumours already swirling in recent weeks over renewed interest, amid a reported £35m price tag.

When delving into the 23-year-old’s stats compared to Gyokeres, he’s matched or bettered the one-time Brighton man in numerous key areas, highlighting what a superb addition he would be for Nuno’s side.

Gimenez, who’s previously been dubbed a “machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have scored fewer goals to date, but has registered a higher shot-on-target rate, evidently proving to be more accurate with his efforts on goal.

Games played

9

17

Goals scored

6

21

Shot-on-target rate

50%

44%

Goal per shot on target

0.50

0.44

Tackles made

0.5

0.2

Recoveries

3.2

2.6

The Feyenoord ace has also averaged more tackles per 90, showcasing his ability without the ball, making him perfect for the club’s counter-attacking style – also having the ability to transition quickly with his movement in behind.

Whilst the Mexican would be another big-money addition for Marinakis, he would certainly be worth every penny given his goalscoring exploits further bolstering their top four aspirations.

As for Wood, it could be harsh to see him lose his starting role under Nuno, with Gimenez potentially providing some healthy competition for the leading goalscorer.

PL rivals want him: Forest could face awful Johnson repeat over £60m star

The Forest star is wanted by PL rivals

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 8, 2025

West Ham United could make a move for a “sensational” Premier League player this month, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Graham Potter off to a solid start

West Ham were made to work hard for their opening victory under Graham Potter, but they just about got over the line, edging Fulham 3-2 in a closely-contested match at the London Stadium.

With Potter’s first three points in the bag, the new manager can now start looking at making a push for the top half of the Premier League table, but he may be keen to aid his side’s chances by bringing in some new reinforcements this month.

Given that Niclas Füllkrug is set to be sidelined for several months due to a hamstring injury, bringing in a new striker may become a priority for Potter, and there are a few options being considered.

Sky Sports: West Ham in talks for £20m star who's scored 3 goals vs Irons

He averages a goal every 75 minutes against the Hammers.

ByCharlie Smith Jan 15, 2025

The Hammers are now in talks with Nottingham Forest over a deal for Taiwo Awoniyi, who could set them back as much as £20m, while they have also tabled a bid to sign Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.

Not only are the Irons looking to bring in a new striker, but they are also keen on a new attacking midfielder, and Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has now confirmed they could make a move for Chelsea’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Dewsbury-Hall is yet to start a Premier League game for the Blues this season, failing to justify his £30m price tag since arriving from Leicester City back in the summer.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is not ruling out letting the attacking midfielder leave during the January transfer window, so it seems like a deal could be there to be done, should West Ham make a concrete approach.

Dewsbury-Hall was "sensational" for Leicester

Although the Englishman has failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, there are clear signs he could be a solid signing for the Hammers, given his previous exploits in the Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers praised the 26-year-old during his time with the Foxes, while also providing an overview of the type of player he is: “Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been sensational really since he has come into the team, and there’s so much more to go as well. He can add goals to his game. But his energy, his physicality, his concentration – he is playing at a really high level.

“It’s the type of player I love: a technical player, he’s got agility, he’s got a good tactical idea of the game, who doesn’t see it as a chore to run and work, he sees that as the obligation.”

The former Leicester man was also impressive in the Championship last season, scoring a brace to help his side overcome rivals Coventry City en-route to promotion.

As such, it is exciting news that West Ham could make a move for Dewsbury-Hall this month, and the player himself may well be keen on the move, given that his game time has been so limited this season.

Three-team Women’s T20 Challenge will be played at Pune’s MCA Stadium

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2022

The IPL 2022 playoffs – one eliminator, two qualifiers and the final – will be held in Kolkata and Ahmedabad between May 24 and May 29, the BCCI confirmed on Tuesday. As reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier, the first two of those matches will be hosted at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, and the rest at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The BCCI has also confirmed that the Women’s T20 Challenge will be held at Pune’s MCA Stadium between May 23 to May 28.Related

Six players to watch out for in the Women's T20 Challenge

IPL playoffs with full-capacity crowds

The three group games of the three-team Women’s T20 Challenge, between Trailblazers, Velocity and Supernovas, will be held on May 23, 24 and 26, with the final on May 28. Supernovas won the trophy the first two years, while Trailblazers won the tournament in 2020. The tournament was first held in 2018, in Mumbai, and was played in Jaipur and Sharjah respectively the following years. However, the tournament was cancelled last season because of the Covid-19 pandemic.It was also confirmed that the IPL playoffs will be held in front of capacity crowds for the first time since the 2019 edition. The IPL governing council had initially allowed a 25% capacity, which was increased to 50% later on.All the IPL 2022 league-stage games had previously been scheduled only in the state of Maharashtra, at the Wankhede and Brabourne stadiums in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, and the MCA Stadium in Pune, with the BCCI being cautious owing to the pandemic situation. However, with the situation better in India now, the board has decided to branch out to other cities for the playoffs and final.

We are now into the business end of the tournament, and while some teams will already be dreaming of glory, others will be harbouring serious regrets

After a breathless fortnight of football of the highest level, the final eight clubs left in this season's Champions League have been decided. The quarter-final line up is a mouth-watering one, too, with Bayern Munich set to face off against Inter, holders Real Madrid taking on Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund tackling free-flowing Barcelona, and Aston Villa standing in the way of a new and improved Paris Saint-Germain.

A host of players stole the spotlight in the round of 16, but managers were not kept completely in the shade as shrewd tactical decisions turned the tide in several games. There were late goals, wonder strikes, and high-profile mistakes aplenty as fans were treated to end-to-end thrillers, fascinating chess matches, and the odd demolition job.

In the end, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Feyenoord, PSV, Club Brugge and Lille were all sent packing. A couple of those teams can point to bad luck as one of the main reasons for their failure, but others were guilty of freezing or underperforming on the biggest stage, and will spend the next few months doing some difficult soul-searching.

With all of that in mind, GOAL brings you the biggest winners and losers from the 2024-25 Champions League last-16…

GettyWINNER: Luis Enrique

After PSG's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on October 1, for which Barcelona flop Ousmane Dembele was dropped for after an argument with Luis Enrique, you'd have been forgiven for thinking that the French giants were on course for yet another season of European disappointment. PSG also lost to Bayern and Atletico in the league phase, compounding an underwhelming start to the post-Kylian Mbappe era.

But Luis Enrique never doubted himself, or the potential of his young squad, and his patience has paid off. Now, PSG suddenly look like the best team in Europe. They were incredibly unfortunate to lose the first leg of their last-16 tie after battering runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool, and outplayed them again at Anfield, eventually emerging victorious after a dramatic penalty shootout.

Dembele is flying as the focal point in a frightening front-three alongside Bradley Barcola and January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia; Vitinha is proving to be a massive upgrade on Marco Verratti; Marquinhos and Willian Pacho have formed a rock-solid centre-back partnership, and Gianluigi Donnarumma has been almost faultless between the sticks. It's Luis Enrique who deserves most of the credit, though, because in the space of just four months, he's transformed PSG into something they've never been before: one of the genuine favourites to win the Champions League.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Mohamed Salah

Before Tuesday, you'd have been hard-pressed to find anyone who didn't view Mohamed Salah as the frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Liverpool's 'Egyptian King' had 53 goal contributions to his name from 41 appearances in all competitions this season, including seven in the Champions League, and the expectation was he would continue his march towards a maiden Golden Ball by masterminding PSG's downfall at Anfield.

But after 120 minutes of pure frustration, the picture looks far less rosy for Salah. Nuno Mendes pocketed the 32-year-old at Parc des Princes and repeated the trick on Merseyside, albeit after an early burst from Liverpool that saw Salah spurn two golden opportunities.

Salah, who was visibly emotional after the final whistle, will surely be replaying those moments in his head for weeks to come. It doesn't matter how many more records Salah goes onto break en route to his second Premier League title, the Ballon d'Or is almost certainly out of his reach now, because his main rivals have all made it through to the latter stages of the Champions League.

The Liverpool talisman has blown his chance at being crowned the world's best player. Even if he ends up signing a new contract at Anfield, it's very difficult to imagine him repeating his superhuman exploits of this term. Salah has turned up on the biggest stage more than any other Liverpool player over the last seven years, but he'll pay a steep price for going missing against the Ligue 1 champions.

Getty Images SportWINNER: Harry Kane

Bayern stormed into the quarter-finals with a 5-0 aggregate victory over domestic rivals Bayer Leverkusen, and Kane grabbed three of the goals to take his overall tally in the Champions League for 2024-25 to 10 in 11 games – the most ever scored by an Englishman in a single season of the competition. Kane also provided the assist for Alphonso Davies to wrap up the 2-0 second-leg win at the BayArena, which saw him become only the second Three Lions player to ever reach 50 goal involvements in the Champions League after a certain David Beckham.

Those are remarkable achievements, and ex-Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany is in no doubt about how important Kane is to his Bayern team. "It helps when you have a top player who wants to run and fight for the team like a youth player," the head coach said on Tuesday. "I played against him as an opponent and he has become better with age."

Indeed, Kane seems to have reached an even higher level than he did at Tottenham. Bayern are still not convincing everyone as a collective, but must be considered genuine Champions League contenders due to Kane's presence alone, with the England captain thriving as more of an out-and-out No.9 under Kompany.

Kane's trophy curse will end in May, because barring a dramatic collapse, Bayern are destined to win back the Bundesliga title, and they will also take some beating in Europe. There are others ahead of Kane in the Ballon d'Or race at the moment, but he's a real dark horse, and will be worth backing if he keeps up his prolific scoring rate.

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GettyLOSER: Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso has done a remarkable job at Bayer Leverkusen. He secured legendary status after leading the club to a historic domestic double last season, and showed great loyalty by penning a new contract instead of buying into links with his old club Real Madrid.

But it has been disappointing how easily his side have surrendered the title of Germany's best team back to Bayern. Leverkusen have been unable to match the Bavarians' consistency in the Bundesliga this time around, falling eight points off the pace with only nine games to go, and they have only the DFB-Pokal to play for this term after being taught a harsh lesson in the Champions League.

Leverkusen let the first leg of their last-16 tie get away from them after a red card to Nordi Mukiele, and never looked like staging a comeback in the second. "To get to the next level is not easy. Bayern is a different level in this competition," Alonso admitted after the defeat.

Those words will be tough to swallow for the Leverkusen faithful given the quality Alonso still has at his disposal. This season must be considered a serious failure, and Alonso's inability to keep the team progressing will adversely affect his chances of landing a job at one of Europe's big boys in the near future.